Boat propulsion, steering, and reversing means



July 25, 1961 J. H. MCKINNEY BOAT PROPULSION, STEERING, AND REVERSING MEANS Filed May 26, 1960 James H. MQKinney BY fiwu A; Q

ATTORNEY United States Patent Ofiice 2,993,463 Patented July 25, 1961 2,993,463 BOAT PROPULSION, STEERING, AND REVERSING MEANS James H. McKinney, Fort Worth, Tex. (506 S. 12th St., Lamar, Colo.) Filed May 26, 1960, Ser. No. 31,883 3 Claims. (Cl. 115.16)

This invention relates to boat propulsion, steering, and reversing means, and it concerns more particularly novel means for propelling, steering, and reversing the direction of movement of a small boat having an inboard engine.

The invention contemplates an arrangement in which a boat is adapted to be propelled by causing a stream of water to be passed thru a fluid conduit arranged within the boat, longitudinally thereof, and communicating with inlet and outlet openings in the bottom of the boat and in the transom thereof, respectively, the cros sectional area of the conduit being progressively reduced as it approaches the outlet opening, and discharging the water from the conduit thru a nozzle, at high velocity, below the water line of the boat, whereby it is adapted to propel the boat in a direction opposite the direction of flow thereof.

The invention further contemplates an arrangement as described in which a rearwardly extending nozzle, and a U-shaped duct of progressively reduced diameter having a forwardly extending nozzle on it smaller end and adapted, in one position thereof, to direct a stream of water forwardly below the bottom of the boat, are arranged to be selectively positioned opposite the outlet opening, in fluid communication therewith, to thereby control the direction of movement of the boat.

The invention further contemplates an arrangement as described in which each of said nozzles is adjustable pivotally in the horizontal plane, whereby the boat is adapted to be steered by pivotal adjustment of one of the nozzles to thereby direct a stream of water to one side or the other as it is discharged therefrom.

The invention will be readily understood by referring to the following description and the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a rear elevational view of a boat having propulsion, steering, and reversing means embodying the invention incorporated therein;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view, on an enlarged scale, taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional elevational view taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a sectional elevational view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary perspective View, on an enlarged scale, showing details of construction.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral 1 designates generally a small boat having an inboard engine (not shown). The boat 1, which may be of any suitable construction, has a bottom 2, a pair of sides 3, and a transom 4.

A propeller screw 5, which is mounted on a shaft 6 driven by the engine, is arranged within a tunnel 7 which is provided therefor within the boat 1 adjacent the bottom 2.

The tunnel 7 extends longitudinally along the bottom 2, and communicates at its ends with water inlet and outlet openings 8 and 9 in the bottom 2 and the transom 4, respectively. The thrust which is employed to propel the boat 1 is obtained by forcing water thru the tunnel 7 by means of the propeller screw 5.

The shaft 6 is supported intermediate its ends by a bearing 10 therefor mounted exteriorly of the tunnel 7, and is supported adjacent its outer end by a bearing 11 which is positioned centrally of a spider 12 arranged transversely of the tunnel 7.

The discharge end of the tunnel 7 is connected by a rearwardly and radially inwardly tapered duct 13 to the outlet opening 9, which is restricted, being substantially smaller than the inlet opening 8.

A conical spacer element 14, which is attached to the spider 12 and extends rearwardly therefrom, centrally of the tapered duct 13, directs the flow of water rearwardly of the propeller screw 5.

A circular plate 15, which has a radius greater than the diameter of the outlet opening 9 of the tunnel 7, is positioned rearwardly of the transom 4, exteriorly of the boat 1, and is rotatable relative thereto. The circular plate 15 is rigidly connected at its center to one end of a rotatable shaft 16, which extends thru an opening therefor in the transom 4, above the outlet opening 9, and is journaled in a bearing 17.

A pair of diametrically opposed openings 18, each of which has a diameter corresponding substantially to the diameter of the outlet opening 9, are formed in the circular plate 15. The openings 18 are adapted to be selectively positioned opposite the outlet opening 9 by rotating the circular plate 15.

A nozzle 19 is mounted on the circular plate 15, and is rotatable therewith. The nozzle 19 has one of its ends pivotally connected to the circular plate 15, in fluid communication with one of the openings 18, by a ball and socket joint 20, and extends rearwardly therefrom.

A U-shaped duct 21 is mounted on the circular plate 15 diametrically opposite the nozzle 19, and is rotatable therewith. The U-shaped duct 21 has one of its ends rigidly connected to the circular plate 15, in fluid communication with the other of the openings 18, and extends rearwardly and radially outwardly therefrom, terminating in a forwardly extending outer end portion.

The diameter of the U-shaped duct 21 is progressively reduced intermediate its ends. A nozzle 22 is pivotally connected to the outer end portion of the U-shaped duct 21, which is the smaller, forwardly thereof, by a ball and socket joint 23.

In one position of the circular plate 15, as shown in FIG. 2, the opening 18 communicating with the nozzle 19 is adapted to be positioned in the path of a stream of water as it is discharged from the tunnel 7, thru the outlet opening 9, to thereby move the boat 1 in a forward direction.

In another position of the circular plate 15 (not shown), the opening 18 communicating with the inner end of the U-shaped duct 21 is adapted to be positioned in the path of a stream of water as it is discharged from the tunnel 7, thru the outlet opening 9, and the U-shaped duct 21 is arranged to deflect such stream forwardly, below the bottom 2 of the boat 1, to thereby move the boat 1 in a rearward direction.

The boat 1 is adapted to be steered, assuming that the opening 18 communicating with the nozzle 19 is positioned opposite the outlet opening 9, by pivotal adjustment of the nozzle 19 in the horizontal plane, as hereinafter described, whereby a stream of water as discharged from the tunnel 7 is adapted to be deflected to one side or the other.

The boat 1 is adapted to be steered, assuming that the opening communicating with the inner end of the U shaped duct 21 is positioned opposite the outlet opening 9, by pivotal adjustment of the nozzle 22 in the horizontal plane, as hereinafter described, whereby a stream of water as discharged from the tunnel 7 is adapted to be deflected to one side or the other.

A pinion gear 24 is attached to the end of the shaft 16 opposite the circular plate 15. The pinion gear 24 is engageable with a rack bar 25 which is movable reciprocally by linkage including a crank 26 having one of its arms connected to a rod 27 actuated by a suitable lever (not shown), whereby the circular plate 15 is adapted to be rotated 180 degrees, by manipulating the lever, to reverse the direction of movement of the boat 1.

A lever 28, which has one of its ends pivotally connected to the circular plate 15, centrally thereof, and extends rearwardly therefrom beyond the nozzle 19 and the U shaped duct 21, is movable pivotally in the horizontal' plane.

The outer end of the lever 28 is connected by a swivel joint 29 to one end of a reciprocally movable armored flexible cable 30, the opposite end of which is operatively connected to the steering wheel of the boat 1.

The armored flexible cable 30 extends thru an opening therefor in the transom 4, laterally of the circular plate 15, and is supported exteriorly of the boat 1 by a bracket 31 attached to the transom 4.

A pair of links 32, which are connected at one end to the nozzles 19 and 22, respectively, are pivotally connected at their opposite ends to the lever 28 intermediate its ends, whereby the nozzles 22 are movable pivotally in response to pivotal movement of the lever 28.

The circular plate 15 is positioned in closely spaced, parallel relation to the transom 4. An annular flange 33, which is attached to the transom 4, surrounds the circular plate 15. The flange 33 has a radially inwardly turned lip overlying the peripheral edge of the circular plate 15.

The invention may be modified in various ways without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

I claim:

1. In combination with a small boat having a transom, and having an inboard engine, a fluid conduit arranged Within the boat, longitudinally thereof, and communicating with inlet and outlet openings in the bottom of the boat and in the transom, below the water line, respectively, the cross sectional area of the conduit being progressively reduced as it approaches the outlet opening, a propeller screw operatively positioned in .the conduit and arranged to be driven by the engine, a rearwardly extending nozzle normally positioned opposite the outlet opening, in fluid communication therewith, the nozzle being adapted to direct a stream of water rearwardly, at high velocity, as it is discharged from the fluid conduit, to thereby propel the boat in a forward direction, and being adjustable pivotally in the horizontal plane to thereby steer the boat by directing the stream of water to one side or the other as it is discharged therefrom, a circular plate carrying the nozzle mounted rearwardly of the transom and rotatable relative thereto, a U shaped duct of progressively reduced diameter having one of its ends rigidly connected to the circular plate, diametrically opposite the nozzle, and extending rearwardly and radially outwardly therefrom, terminating in a forwardly extending outer end portion, and a forwardly extending nozzle carried by the outer end portion, the circular plate being rotatable 180 degrees whereby the first mentioned nozzle and the U shaped duct are adapted to be selectively positioned opposite the outlet opening, in fluid communication therewith, the U shaped duct being adapted, in one position thereof, to direct a stream of water forwardly below the bottom of the boat, at high velocity, as it is discharged from the fluid conduit, to thereby propel the boat in a rearward direction, the last mentioned nozzle being adjustable pivotally in the horizontal plane to thereby steer the boat by directing the stream of water to one side or the other as it is discharged therefrom.

2. "lhe structure of claim 1, and means for adjusting the rotative position of the circular plate comprising a rotatable shaft extending thru the transom, above the outlet opening, and having its outer end rigidly connected to the circular plate at its center, a pinion gear rigidly connected to the inner end of the rotatable shaft, a rack bar engageable with the pinion gear, and linkage operable from inside the boat acting on the rack bar to move it reciprocally.

3. The structure of claim 1, and means for pivotally adjusting the nozzles in the horizontal plane comprising a lever having one of its ends pivotally connected to the circular plate at its center and extending rearwardly therefrom beyond the first mentioned nozzle and the U shaped duct, reciprocally movable flexible linkage operable from inside the boat positioned laterally of the circular plate and connected by a swivel joint to the outer end of the lever, whereby the lever is movable pivotally in the horizontal plane, in response to reciprocal movement of the flexible linkage, independently of the rotative position of the circular plate, and linkage operatively connected to the lever intermediate its ends and acting on the respective nozzles to move them pivotally in response to pivotal movement of the lever.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 93,337 Paradis Aug. 3, 1869 1,498,919 Jensen June 24, 1924 2,024,274 Campini Dec. 17, 1935 FOREIGN PATENTS 118,815 New Zealand Jan. 1959 OTHER REFERENCES Yachting; vol. 106, No. 5. November 1959; pages and 71. 

